Newcastle
is situated
on the Eastern Coast of Australia, 167 kilometres
drive north of Sydney, being New
South Wales' second largest city and the sixth
largest city in Australia. Newcastle City
reaches out to the sea on a Peninsula at the mouth
of the Hunter River. This distinctive geography
creates the only Australian City with a CBD
simultaneously on the beach and the harbour
waterfront. The
average temperatures ranges between 18 – 27
degrees Celsius.

Newcastle
is seton
a breathtaking stretch of Australia's Pacific
Ocean coastline and is built around a large
harbour, accessed by both recreational and
commercial sea craft. The harbour entrance is home
to Nobby's Lighthouse and the Breakwater. The
Foreshore area provides a relaxing venue for
enjoying a drink or a meal in one of the many harbour side
restaurants, cafes or bars. Visitors
to the foreshore can sit and relax while watching
the busy harbour traffic. High above Newcastle
Harbour is Fort Scratchley, a defensive fort built
during the Crimean War to protect the city from
invasion. At the height of the Second World War,
the fort returned fire at a Japanese submarine. It
was the only Australian fort to have engaged the
enemy in a maritime attack.

The
harbour
is edged by large expanses of parkland, where
people gather for picnics, bike rides,
rollerblading, jogging, or simply flying a kite. A
little further up the road is the Strzelecki
Lookout at Merewether Beach. As the highest point
in the city, the lookout is a favourite haunt of
Hangliding enthusiasts. Newcastle boasts some of
Australia's best beaches and waterways for
swimming, surfing, sailing and other water sports.
Combined with a low cost of living and a
favourable climate, Newcastle presents a relaxed
and welcoming lifestyle. With a regional
population of about 500,000, Newcastle supports a
thriving business and commercial sector and an
excellent network of health care and educational
facilities. Newcastle is home to some of the best
entertainment venues on Australia's eastern coast
and offers many of the usual city comforts -
restaurants, cafes, parks and gardens, theatres,
art galleries, shopping centres and nightclubs.
The city has built a solid
international and domestic reputation for the
wealth of talent radiating from the city. From the
commercial success of rock-bands such as
Silverchair, to the annual cultural activities
such as the Shootout Film Festival and the This Is
Not Art Exhibition, Newcastle boasts a vibrant
artistic and creative scene, attracting attention
world-wide.

Only
ten minutes
drive from the city centre visitors can get up
close and personal with some of Australia's unique
and beautiful wildlife. Blackbutt Reserve hosts
spacious modern facilities which allow close
viewing of a variety of animals, such as
Kangaroos, Koalas, Emus, Wallabies, Wombats and a
significant array of species of Australian Birds. Nearby
Lake Macquarie is the largest coastal salt water
lake in Australia and is four times the size of
Sydney Harbour. In 2004 Newcastle celebrated
its 200th birthday. The Newcastle of today is a
thriving cosmopolitan city with a relaxed coastal
lifestyle, vibrant cultural life, and civic pride. The
city has many historic 19th century buildings some
of which have been recently restored to their
former glory. The dunes of Stockton Beach
not far from the city, is just a ferry ride away. The surf culture is very strong in
Newcastle,
with many surfwear and surfboard-makers. The
biggest Surf championships is held in March,
and the city has a large student community due the
famous University of Newcastle. Newcastle is a
place that is redirecting its portuary fame into
a tourist destination. It is a well kept secret.